The Unique Experiences of Older Gay and Bisexual Men: Associations with Health and Well-Being

BACKGROUND Social media is used by community-based organizations (CBOs) to promote the well-being of gay and bisexual men (GBM). However, few studies have quantified which factors facilitate the diffusion of health content tailored for sexual minorities. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify post characteristics that can be leveraged to optimize the health promotion efforts of CBOs on Facebook. METHODS The Facebook application programming interface was used to collect 5 years’ of posts shared across 10 Facebook pages administered by Vancouver-based CBOs promoting GBM health. Network analysis assessed basic indicators of network structure. Content analyses were conducted using informatics-based approaches. Hierarchical negative binomial regression of post engagement data was used to identify meaningful covariates of engagement. RESULTS In total, 14,071 posts were shared and 21,537 users engaged with these posts. Most users (n=13,315) engaged only once. There was moderate correlation between the number of posts and the number of CBOs users engaged with (r=.53, P<.001). Higher user engagement was positively associated with positive sentiment, sharing multimedia, and posting about pre-exposure prophylaxis, stigma, and mental health. Engagement was negatively associated with asking questions, posting about dating, and sharing posts during or after work (versus before). CONCLUSIONS Results highlight the existence of a core group of Facebook users who facilitate diffusion. Factors associated with greater user engagement present CBOs with a number of strategies for improving the diffusion of health content.

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Well-Being Among Older Gay and Bisexual Men and Women in England: A Cross-sectional Population Study

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association ◽

10.1016/j.jamda.2019.01.119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 1080-1085.e1 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Igor Grabovac ◽

Lee Smith ◽

Daragh T. McDermott ◽

Sinisa Stefanac ◽

Lin Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Study ◽

Well Being ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Men And Women ◽

And Bisexual

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Resilience pathways, childhood escape routes, and mentors reported by gay and bisexual men affected by syndemic conditions

Sexualities ◽

10.1177/1363460718758663 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 622-642 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Barry D Adam ◽

Trevor A Hart ◽

Jack Mohr ◽

Todd Coleman ◽

Julia Vernon

Keyword(s):

Pop Culture ◽

Well Being ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Social Resources ◽

Sexual Relationships ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Internet Chat ◽

The Social ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Hostile Environments

Investigation of the social and psychological antecedents of the HIV epidemic has identified a syndemic of conditions associated with risk behavior and seroconversion. This study inquires into the resilient practices and developmental processes of gay and bisexual men at the nexus of syndemic conditions to understand the pathways that lead to health problems or well-being. Interviews with 40 men identified branching pathways from home environments into schools that either offer refuge or a regime of gender discipline and bullying. Some found escape routes from hostile environments in worlds of books, pop culture, or internet chat. In adolescence, one set of men identified the development of sexual relationships with older men as a lifeline that brought a measure of emotional growth. This study points to resilience pathways and social resources that could make a difference in the lives of those deemed to be “high risk.”

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Can promoting romantic relationship quality help gay and bisexual men better face HIV stigma?

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407516638192 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 376-396 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gibran Rodríguez de los Reyes ◽

Karla Urriola González

Keyword(s):

Relationship Quality ◽

Social Stigma ◽

Well Being ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Hiv Stigma ◽

Primary Concern ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Advancements in antiretroviral treatment and a greater access to medication have contributed to an increased life expectancy for people who live with HIV/AIDS. As a result, new psychosocial goals in the treatment of HIV, such as improving the quality of life and levels of well-being of those who are infected, have become increasingly relevant. Since men who have sex with men, particularly those who identify as gay and bisexual, continue to be a group of primary concern within the HIV-affected population, new interventions to help them reach the aforementioned goals must be developed. Considering HIV stigma represents a paramount psychosocial threat for individual’s psychological and physical well-being, the authors embrace a resilience-oriented perspective and propose a relational approach to helping gay and bisexual men living with HIV/AIDS better face social stigma. Through an integrative literature review that discusses scholarly works published in the past 15 years on the topics of HIV stigma, relationship quality, and interventions with couples dealing with chronic illness, the authors suggest several couple-oriented interventions as promising strategies to help gay and bisexual men living with HIV/AIDS cope with the social stigma. Future directions in research and plausible components for interventions with these HIV-affected male couples are also discussed.

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